German Literature (Bachelor of Arts, B.A.)

In an era of media competition, the tasks of Literary Studies are as numerous and extensive as they are exciting and diverse.
Studying German Literature at HU means contributing to many years of scientific development in opening up the cultural complexity of philological subjects: we combine the traditionally separate subjects of Old German Literature and Modern German Literature into a joint teaching and research area and give them a cultural studies orientation.

The core teaching and research subject is the history of German literature, with theory, methodology and the history of literary studies. Closely intertwined with mandatory History of Literature are the profile-defining teaching fields, which build on interdisciplinary research perspectives and subject interdependence, and offer an opportunity to specialise on the course alongside the study of the core philological material.

The course provides fundamental knowledge, methods, and work techniques for literary studies from a cultural studies perspective. It teaches core philological skills combined with specialist literary studies knowledge, covering the Middle Ages to the present, and develops the particular ability to analyse linguistic texts. Students acquire interdisciplinary knowledge that consolidates subject-specific analysis, research, and methodological skills.

The programme enables students to undertake multi-skilled methodical analysis based on literary and cultural theory of texts in a broader sense, taking into consideration the systems of symbols throughout the history of media. It offers a foundation for the German Literature master’s programme and for professional work in an information society, particularly one reliant on the collection, preparation, and provision of knowledge.

Core subject German Literature with 120 CP

Mandatory modules (71 CP)
Module 01: Old German Literature basic module, 7 CP
Module 02: Modern German Literature basic module, 7 CP
Module 03: Text and Media Analysis I, 9 CP
Module 04: History of German Literature I - from the beginnings to 1650, 6 CP
Module 05: History of German Literature II - 1600 - 1850, 8 CP
Module 06: History of German Literature III from 1800 to the Present, 6 CP
Module 07: Text and Media Analysis II, 11 CP
Module 08: Literary Studies as Cultural Studies I, 7 CP
Module 09: Bachelor’s thesis, 10 CP

Mandatory elective modules (29 CP)
Module 10: Literature and Context or
Module 11: Literary Studies as Cultural Studies II, each 10 CP

Module 12: Reading course I (premodern Literature) or
Module 13: Reading course II (modern Literature), each 9 CP

Module 14: Practical Orientation or
Module 15: Internship, each 10 CP

General elective modules (20 CP)

In addition to specialised study, Students acquire subject-specific, non-specialist and interdisciplinary key qualifications of 20 CP. The general elective modules can be chosen from the module catalogues of other subjects or central institutions (see: http://agnes.hu-berlin.de/).

Secondary subject German Literature with 60 CP

Modules 1 to 6 and module 8 of mandatory modules from the core subject (in total 50 CP) and
Module 16: In-depth Study, 10 CP

General course offerings for students coming from other courses of studies

Module 30: Introduction to the fields of work of Old German Literature & Modern German Literature, 5 CP
Module 31: History of German Literature I and II, 5 CP
Module 32: History of German Literature I and III, 5 CP
Module 33: History of German Literature II and III, 5 CP